NFC IDP Snap Counts: Week Ten
2020 is so hard, isn’t it? The injuries and weekly fluctuations are just tough to keep track of. That is why we bring you this weekly article that trawls through the 500+ defenders who play in the NFL each and every week.
READ: AFC IDP Snap Counts: Week Ten
Arizona Cardinals – 73 snaps
On his second game back in Arizona, Markus Golden ramped up to 57 snaps (from 34 last week) opposite Haason Reddick (73).
At inside linebacker, only Jordan Hicks (73) was a full-time player. De’Vondre Campbell (39) injured his calf leaving Isaiah Simmons (32) to step up. Keep an eye on this situation.
Byron Murphy (66) and Dre Kirkpatrick (63) returned at corner after missing last week. Both remain bad.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons enjoyed their bye week.
Carolina Panthers –80 snaps
Jeremy Chinn (72) and Juston Burris (50) both returned at safety, which meant Sam Franklin dropped to just 32 snaps.
On the edge we again saw how frustrating this rotation is. Efe Obada (29) got the sack this week while Brian Burns (55) and Yetur Gross-Matos (46) did not.
Chicago Bears – 74 snaps
The high snap count led to some big performances, LB Roquan Smith (73) chief among them. He’s been one of the better cover backers in the NFL this year after a poor 2019.
Nose tackle Daniel McCullers (39) received more playing time this week than usual. Going up against the Vikings’ run-heavy offense will do that for you. Similarly, Danny Trevathan played 65 snaps at LB, the most he’s played since week one. The Bears are taking him off the field in some passing situations but against the Vikes, that’s not much of an issue.
Dallas Cowboys – snaps
The Cowboys enjoyed their bye week.
Detroit Lions –88 snaps
It was a huge snap total for the Lions this week – which led to some big individual performances. But this remains a frightfully weak unit.
Edge Romeo Okwara (54) managed another sack to keep his run of production going. Trey Flowers missed his second game in a row. Everson Griffen (56), Austin Bryant (44) and Frank Herron (21) all saw significant playing time.
Jamie Collins (88) turned his playing time into a big IDP day. Reggie Ragland (77) turned his into yet another day of poor play.
Tracy Walker (36) returned after missing last week. He was being eased in, with Duron Harmon (88) and Jayron Kearse (80) the top guys.
Green Bay Packers – 64 snaps
The Packers finally got some pass rush together against the Jaguars. Edge defenders Za’Darius Smith (53), Preston Smith (52) ab Rashan Gary (31) all managed sacks. And more encouragingly they recorded 16 pressures between them. This was more like what we saw from them last season.
DT Kenny Clark (57) also had his finest game since returning from injury.
What’s more, Christian Kirksey (64) returned at LB to add some much-needed stability at the position. Oren Burks (5) and Kamal Martin (13) barely saw the field.
Even with stud corner Jaire Alexander missing the game, this was a very encouraging outing for the Packers.
Los Angeles Rams – 67 snaps
Safety Taylor Rapp managed just 12 snaps before going down with what seems a serious knee injury. Initial speculation is that he’ll miss the rest of the season. Jordan Fuller (58) has been the first choice at times and is a priority add if available at the position.
This Rams defense continues to be sorely underrated. They’re a top-five unit. Incredibly even Leonard Floyd is playing well. He racked up an enormous 11 pressures this week with three sacks – that is as many as he had in the whole of 2019.
Minnesota Vikings – 50 snaps
That was a very low weekly snap count for the Vikings.
LB Eric Wilson (50) produced anyway with an excellent performance including a sack, and safety Harrison Smith (50) also produced well with a pick.
On the edge DJ Wonnum (28) managed another sack which will get people excited. Over the past three games, he has two sacks from 11 pressures which is excellent, especially as he’s played just 103 snaps in that time. Jalyn Holmes (39) has 155 snaps over the same period and has zero sacks from seven pressures. Holmes does have five solos tackles to Wonnum’s one though. So, your scoring system will tell you who the priority is. Holmes is playing more – but Wonnum is a purer pass rusher and is playing better.
New Orleans Saints – 71 snaps
LB Kwon Alexander made his Saints debut this week playing 43 snaps. As expected, it came at the expense of Alex Anzalone (1) who has seemingly run out of chances in New Orleans. Demario Davis (71) remains the lone every-down LB for now.
New York Giants – 67 snaps
The Giants are an interesting defense. They’re getting dismissed a lot because “the Giants suck!” but there’s something brewing here schematically.
The biggest benefactor remains Leonard Williams (47) who’s playing the “big end” position in their hybrid front. He created seven pressures this week and had another sack.
Kyler Fackrell (63) holds down the opposite spot, with Trent Harris (32) and Jabaal Sheard (19) also involved.
Philadelphia Eagles – 71 snaps
DE Derek Barnett (46) had a fine game today. He’s not turned into a superstar – but he’s a perfectly acceptable starting NFL edge.
The big performance though was LB Alex Singleton. He turned his 71 snaps into a huge statistical day and frankly looks about three levels better than Nate Gerry did in that lead LB role. He needs to be owned in all but the shallowest IDP leagues. Duke Riley (51) and TJ Edwards (53) were way behind Singleton.
Seattle Seahawks – 70 snaps
This unit is awful. I know they’ve got some big names. But they’re really bad.
It mostly starts with the lack of pass rush. Carlos Dunlap (51) looked like a normal human being after his great debut a week ago, LJ Collier is just a guy, Rasheem Greene (29) and Alton Robinson (27) are purely depth guys.
Even Jamal Adams (67) looked a bit sketchy in this game. He’s still rushing the passer amazingly well for a DB – but that’s not that reliable.
San Francisco 49ers –59 snaps
Safety Jaquiski Tartt again missed this game. He might be the least reliable safety in the NFL. Tarvarius Moore (59) and Jimmie Ward (59) were on the field with Marcell Harris (30) the number three.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 48 snaps
The Bucs played the fewest defensive snaps of the week with just 48. That’s crazy low.
LB Lavonte David (48) had a decent day but there wasn’t enough opportunity for most players to do well. Devin White (48) had a rough day next to him, but no one will talk about it.
Shaq Barrett (44) and Jason Pierre-Paul (43) both managed to record sacks. Barrett has been racking up a load of pressure but not finishing – the opposite of what he was doing in 2019.
Washington Football Team – 59 snaps
This is the first prototype of a good defense. It’s not there yet – but there are enough flashes to be optimistic.
DE Chase Young (49) had a rough game. He had eight pressures (including two sacks) in his first two games – and he’s managed just ten pressures (with one sack) in his six subsequent games. He’s still an amazing prospect – but he’s not been the sort of instant hit the Bosa brothers were.
Jon Bostic and Cole Holcomb (both 59) seem to have nailed the LB spots. Kevin Pierre-Louis (14) did not take his chance earlier in the season.
Kamren Curl (59) is playing the Landon Collins strong safety role and had a huge week. This was his best game by far. He needs to be owned as a top 24 safety.
Thanks for reading and good luck with waivers.
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